Sunday, August 28, 2011

Ohio Gooper Roundup

Ohio state Rep. Tim Grendell (R) said today that he will introduce legislation requiring Ohioans in need of unemployment benefits, welfare, or other government aid to take a drug test first. Patterned on Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s (R) new law, the bill, Grendell says, will force those seeking state aid “to pay for the drug tests” upfront — a payment that would only be repaid “if they pass.” If anyone fails the test two times, they will be banned from receiving aid for three years.

Meanwhile, in Florida Rick Scott's assertion that people on welfare are more likely to use drugs has been proven false: since the state began testing welfare applicants for drugs in July, about 2 percent have tested positive.

Of course, this isn't about saving the state money. It's about demonizing the poor and the unemployed: "Those people who are taking our tax dollars."

The Plain Dealer noted that the "heartbeat bill" is only one of five anti-abortion measures put forward in the Ohio state legislature since the start of the new session.
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Legislators from Georgia and Texas have already asked for copies of Ohio's bill so they can introduce similar bills in their own states, the Plain Dealer reported.
"Let's just remember when 50 million lives are snuffed out - plus-50 million - think of all the artists, think of all the musicians, think of all the athletes, all the surgeons, all the science, all of the gifted children that we have lost because of this," he said. "What do we hear now? We hear statements such as there's not enough workers, there's not enough people working to support our Social Security, we don't have enough people working to support our pension systems. I guess that's what 50 million people lost will do to you."

Rep. Robert Mecklenborg, R-Cincinnati, said it is now his expectation that the Senate will vote on the House-passed photo-ID bill when it returns to session on July 13. Speaker William G. Batchelder, R-Medina, said there is an agreement with the Senate to move the bill.

So what else was Bob up to this summer besides lady-parts regulatin' and voter disenfranchisin'?

Martin is a conservative Republican. He is a member of the Ohio Gun Collectors Association, the Greene County Fish and Game Association, and the National Rifle Association. He is an active advocate for gun rights and has supported multiple bills which would make their purchase, usage, and carriage easier. Martin is also a staunch supporter of States' Rights and supported resolutions declaring this to the federal government.

What else?

Maybe putting that bar in the basement of the Statehouse is a good idea, after all.
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